Garmin Steps Up OEM Drive With Suzuki Deal

Olathe, Kan. - Garmin, the maker
of portable navigation devices (PNDs) and other commercial navigation
equipment, is stepping up its pursuit of the OEM car market with the
announcement that it will provide a factory-installed infotainment system for
most 2013 model year Suzuki vehicles available in the U.S.

Garmin already offers detachable
PNDs for select Suzuki, BMW and Volvo vehicles in the U.S. as standard
equipment or dealer-installed options.

"This is our first in-car
infotainment system that we supply to a car manufacturer," a spokesman told
TWICE. "We've previously provided different kind of navigation solutions to
automakers, such as integrated PNDs or the navigation component for in-dash
systems." Garmin, he added, has demonstrated its capability to provide fully
integrated cockpits to pilots, and we can build upon this experience to bring a
similar level of technology, integration, safety, reliability and efficiency to
the automotive market."

Under the new Suzuki arrangement,
Garmin is building an infotainment system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, AM/FM, CD player,
iPod/iPhone-compatible USB, SD card slot, embedded flash memory, control of
Pandora Internet radio on a connected iPhone, backup camera support, Garmin navigation and voice control. Real-time
information, such as traffic, parking, weather and fuel prices will be
available through the Garmin Smartphone Link app, which links an Android phone
to the Suzuki infotainment system via Bluetooth.

The system incorporates Garmin
navigation technologies such as spoken turn-by-turn directions with spoken
street names, PhotoReal Junction View with lane guidance, speed limit and
current speed displays, and millions of points of interest. When switching to
the music player and other menus, navigation continues with visual cues
displayed at the top of the screen.

Besides building PNDs, Garmin
sells its navigation technologies on an OEM basis to automakers and aftermarket
autosound suppliers and also offers GPS equipment in the outdoor, fitness,
marine and aviation markets.